Built Environment and Social Context

The high Hispanic/Latino uninsured rate reflects several factors. Hispanic/Latinos are less likely to have coverage through their jobs than the overall non-elderly population. Additionally, they often face barriers to enrolling in health insurance affordability programs such as Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and ACA marketplaces. Strict immigration-related eligibility restrictions block some Hispanic/Latinos from enrolling, while others may not know these programs exist or fear that enrolling would negatively affect their families. Others may have tried to enroll but encountered procedural hurdles.

CalOptima was formed in 1995 in response to a healthcare system that was struggling to meet the needs of vulnerable Orange County residents. Today, CalOptima has grown to be the single, largest health insurer in Orange County, providing coverage for one in four residents through four programs: Medi-Cal, OneCare Connect, OneCare, and PACE. CalOptima is a health care program that pays for some medical services of children and adults with limited income and resources. It covers families with children, adults, seniors, people with disabilities, foster care children, pregnant women, and people with specific diseases. Currently, CalOptima provides Medi-cal coverage for 925,756 Orange County residents, including 43% of Santa Ana’s citizens, and serves 27% of Spanish speakers. Since 2016, CalOptima has increased its participation in public events serving the Hispanic/Latino community. CalOptima also launched an initiative to strengthen relationships with Hispanic/ Latino community organizations and holds monthly meetings called “Cafecito” to connect with other Hispanic/Latino community-based service providers.

Sources: https://ssa.ocgov.com/health-care-services https://caloptima.org/en/ForMembers/Medi-Cal/HowToEnroll.aspx https://www.ochealthinfo.com/providers-partners/county-partnerships/caloptima

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey